It’s that time of year when we’re making our lists, checking them twice, and scouring every store and website to ensure we get the perfect gifts for friends and family and get all of our Christmas shopping done in time. But the holiday season isn’t just about presents. It’s also about appreciating those around us and coming together to share in something special.

It’s not just the real world where we enjoy the holiday season. Soon, Final Fantasy 14 players across Eorzea will be experiencing the excitement of the Starlight Celebration, taking part in the latest seasonal event, donning their festive glamours, and decorating their FC houses and apartments.

RELATED: Final Fantasy 14 Community Spotlight: Minato Briar's Persona Velvet Room Build

With that in mind, we wanted to celebrate the Final Fantasy 14 community with our very own Starlight Celebration Advent Calendar. Every day up until Christmas, we’ll be opening a new door on our calendar and revealing something fun for players to do in-game (and sometimes in the real world, too). We’ll be highlighting some of the incredible people within the community, as well as sharing festive challenges for your Warriors of Light to tackle.

Make sure you visit every day to see what each new door brings!

Starlight Celebration Advent Calendar

1. SHC’s Christmas Village

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Are you ready for a walk in a winter wonderland? For our very first advent calendar door reveal, we’re encouraging players to visit SHC’s stunning Christmas Village on Goblin.

Mocha_Kaffe of SHC has not only ‘let it snow’ outside their FC house, with a snow-filled scene for players to enjoy, but they’ve built a beautiful recreation of a shopping promenade, complete with festive decorations and store windows filled with perfect gift ideas. In the basement, you can find a stage with a beautiful Christmas tree, while upstairs is a gorgeous carousel and a cosy little log cabin bar with an open fire to keep you warm.

It’s the perfect place to take some holiday gpose snaps to share with your friends and FC, especially as the official Starlight Celebration decorations have yet to arrive.

You can visit this house on Plot 1, Ward 11 of Mist on Goblin, Crystal. Please be courteous to FC members and other visitors while there.

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2. Namafel Inc Presents Lalafells of the Caribbean - The Finale

For many, the holidays also mean that pantomime season has arrived. So what better way to celebrate than with a show?

Namafel Inc returns with the follow-up to Lalafells Of The Caribbean, so get ready to catch up with the cast and witness the finale of this adorable and hilarious story arc. If you missed out on the first show, you can watch the highlights here.

Lalafells of the Caribbean - The Finale will take place today (December 2) at 21:00 GMT+8/ 13:00 GMT / 08:00 EST in Plot 43, Ward 9 of the Goblet on Tonberry, Elemental. There will also be a rerun at the same time tomorrow (December 3).

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3. A Recipe Reborn - Starlight Roll Cake Baking

Cake and Photo by Lemon Drop.

It wouldn’t be the holidays without stuffing your face with all kinds of tasty treats, right? A Starlight Roll Cake is the perfect choice, so let’s bring a taste of Eorzea to our festive tables.

For her A Recipe Reborn cooking stream this week, Lemon Drop has kindly taught us how to bake the Starlight Roll Cake from Final Fantasy 14, but in the real world! You can find the video that instructs you how to bake your own cake just below, as well as the full recipe that breaks down all required ingredients and instructions, so you can ensure you have everything you need.

Don't forget to check out Lemon Drop's other amazing cooking creations! You can stay up to date with her streaming schedule via her Twitter.

Starlight Roll Cake Recipe

Special Equipment

  • 18 x 13-inch baking pan (half sheet size, 45 x 33 cm)
  • Stand mixer (preferred) or hand mixer
  • Scale
  • Thermometer
  • Piping bag & star tip

Chocolate Glaze

  • 200g of white chocolate, chopped
  • 200g of whipping cream
  • 50g glucose or light corn syrup
  • brown gel food colouring or 1 tsp of strong instant coffee (prepared with water)

Chocolate Glaze Method

  1. In a small pot, whisk together the cream and glucose, then bring to a boil.
  2. Place the chocolate in a bowl. Pour the cream mixture over the chocolate and let stand for 1 minute.
  3. Stir gently to combine, do not whip to prevent forming bubbles.
  4. Add the colouring to the remaining glaze, then set aside to cool.

Sponge cake

  • 250g (5) whole eggs
  • 100g granulated sugar
  • 100g bread flour
  • 5ml vanilla extract

Sponge cake method

  1. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F. Prepare the baking pan with cooking spray or soft butter, then press parchment paper into the pan. Prepare a pan of barely simmering water for a double boiler.
  2. In a large heat-safe bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, and heat over the double boiler until it reaches 60C/140F, whisking constantly. Using a mixer, whip the mixture to the ribbon stage. It should be light and doubled in volume. Mix in the vanilla.
  3. Sift the flour and gently fold it into the egg mixture.
  4. Scoop the batter into the baking pan, spread with a spatula, and bake until the cake springs back to the touch, about ten minutes. Set aside to cool completely.

Brandy Syrup

  • 60g granulated sugar
  • 60g water
  • 10g brandy or spirit of your preference
  • Brandy Syrup method
  1. In a small pot, combine the sugar and the water and bring to a boil. Take the pot off the heat and add the brandy. Set aside to cool completely.

Italian Buttercream

  • 165g (5) egg whites
  • 300g sugar, divided into 225g and 75g
  • 83ml water
  • 10ml vanilla extract or paste
  • 450g butter, softened and cubed
  • 166g white chocolate, chopped

Buttercream method

  1. In a small pot, combine water and 225g sugar. Cook over medium-high heat to make a syrup. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the egg whites and remaining 75g sugar. Begin whipping the egg whites on medium speed.
  2. When the egg whites reach soft peaks, and the syrup reaches 116C/240F, immediately remove the syrup from the heat, continue to whip the egg whites, and carefully pour in the syrup with a slow steady stream.
  3. Whip until the mixture has cooled to room temperature.
  4. Switch to the paddle attachment, if you have one. Add the vanilla. On medium speed, mix in the butter a few cubes at a time, and cream to a smooth and light consistency. This may take up to 20 minutes.
  5. While the mixture is whipping, heat the chocolate over a double boiler to melt and set it aside to cool
  6. When the buttercream mixture is smooth, add in the chocolate and mix until fully incorporated.

Swiss Roll Assembly & Garnishing

  • Cooled cake
  • Buttercream
  • Brandy syrup
  • Glaze
  • 10 small same-sized strawberries
  1. Slice the sponge in half width-wise to make 2 rolls. Cut the parchment paper as well.
  2. Brush both pieces of sponge with brandy syrup.
  3. Set aside about 200g buttercream to mask the roll. Set aside about 150g to pipe rosettes.
  4. Dollop then spread buttercream on both pieces of sponge, leaving the far edge uncovered.
  5. Roll both cakes into a log lengthwise, use the parchment to hold it together as you roll.
  6. Brush the surface of the roll with brandy syrup.
  7. Mask both rolls with buttercream and smooth with parchment paper.
  8. Set in the freezer to chill and firm up, about 20 minutes.
  9. Set the rolls on an elevated surface or wire rack and pour the glaze over them. If the glaze is solidified, warm it up over a double boiler.
  10. Cut the ends off the rolls and slice the rolls into ten 2-inch pieces.
  11. Pipe a rosette on to each slice with the remaining buttercream.
  12. Garnish with strawberries.
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4. Starlight Celebration Scavenger Hunt Challenge

Are you ready for your first Starlight Celebration challenge? Let’s start with a Scavenger Hunt!

We want you to find a range of festive-themed targets in the game. This isn’t going to be as straightforward as you might think, as don’t forget, the Starlight Celebration decorations have yet to arrive in-game. So what does that mean? It’s time to get creative!

Can’t find Santa Claus? Ramuh or a bearded Roegadyn will do. No reindeer? Well, how about an antelope? You get the idea. We’ve shared our own creative solutions to the Scavenger Hunt just below to give you some hints!

  1. A snowman
  2. A reindeer
  3. Santa Claus
  4. A wrapped gift
  5. An elf
  6. A hearty winter meal
  7. A wreath
  8. A Christmas tree
  9. An open fire
  10. A stocking

Our Scavenger Hunt Results

1.

While I considered just whipping out my snowman mount, who can resist the adorable expression of this snowman who remains in the game all year round?

2.

If it has antlers, it's a reindeer... right? Technically, I could have checked off the present and stocking with this picture too, but where's the fun in that?!

3.

I found a player dressed in a Santa suit, which I think is good enough even if they don't have a beard.

4.

Having far too many minions pays off sometimes.

5.

Random Elezen NPC? It counts.

6.

I did check a few random NPC houses, but ultimately, my own FC house had something that worked - Shakshouka!

7.

FC house to the rescue again! This Goobbue wreath was perfect.

8.

I ran around the housing ward until I found the most festive tree I could find... If I had looked for longer, I'm sure I would have stumbled across an actual Starlight Celebration tree.

9.

There are plenty of roaring fires to be found in the game — do you know where this one is?

10.

I can only apologise to this random player in Limsa for taking pictures of their socks, but it was the closest I came to finding a stocking without relying on my Chocobo picture.

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5. Archer's Den Bard Concert Venue

When it comes to Christmas, you can't help but think of Christmas carols and live entertainment. We all need a bit of live music to enjoy the holidays, so why not attend the Archer's Den Bard concert venue on Primal! Enjoy the music of four different Bard bands and get partying with other players who are all ready to dance the night away.

The venue is open this evening from 6:30pm - 11:30pm EST with the following lineup:

  • 6:30pm - 7:00pm EST - The Rosalines
  • 7:00pm - 8:30pm EST - The Awesomi's
  • 8:30pm - 10:00pm EST - Mevari and the Archons
  • 10:00pm - 11:30pm EST - The Wiggles

You can find the Archer's Den in Plot 21, Ward 16 in Mist on Hyperion, Primal.

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6. How To Catch Starbright - The Unofficial, Official Fish Of Starlight Celebration!

It's time to get festive in a fishy way, yep, you heard me! Our favourite Fisherman Fruity Snacks has created this awesome guide on how to catch the Starbright fish.

Why the Starbright fish, you ask? It's not just down to a similar-sounding name to the Starlight Celebration. According to Eorzean lore, these kissing trout are believed to be blessed by the goddess Nymeia, the very same goddess associated with the Starlight Celebration.

So get your festive fishing gear on and go and catch yourself your very own Starbright!

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7. Christmas Elf Crafting Challenge

It's time for another Starlight Celebration challenge, and as it's the season of giving and all that, it's time to channel your inner Christmas elf and start making those toys! Or any gifts, really.

Dress in your favourite festive glamour, select your craft of choice, and let's get merry in our Christmas Elf Crafting challenge!

Whether your crafting jobs are maxed out, or you're still low-level, there's always something useful or fun to make for others! Here are some ideas:

  • Be helpful! Go to sprout starter areas and help craft low-level gear and consumables that new players would appreciate.
  • Get toy-making! Craft minions or furnishings that would be the envy of any of Santa's workshop elves!
  • Make it fun! Everyone loves a silly or cute glamour piece to wear, so why not craft them something for their Glamour Dresser!

Then you get to run around delivering gifts to any Warriors of Light in Eorzea! It's at this point I wished I had a sleigh mount...

Even if you don't have a crafting job leveled, you can still participate in spreading a little Christmas cheer, after all, not all gifts have to be material!

Why not help out someone in a zone? Go around and share those heals, help fellow players complete content, or just share a little joy with some silly dances!

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8. The Aether Entertainer's First Anniversary Party

Are you ready to party? We all love a good celebration this time of year, so why not visit The Aether Entertainer's First Anniversary event!

You can look forward to performances by The Songbird, Esprit, and Empress Vexy. There will also be the Rainy Nights Poetry Reading, a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre with The Locker Room, and The Roast Comedy Club. Still want more? There will also be character artists, a photo booth, and a tarot reader! Go and check out the winter-themed dancefloor, order your favourite drink from the bar, and get ready to show off your dance moves!

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The event is taking place later today at 7:00 pm - 1:00 am EST in Plot 40, Ward 5 in Shirogane on Midgardsormr, Aether.

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